It’s back! RBC Race for the Kids to return to Hyde Park this autumn

For the first time in three years, GOSH Charity’s much-loved RBC Race for the Kids will return to its home of Hyde Park in London, and registrations are now open for the fun-filled day of fundraising.

Taking place on 8 October 2022, GOSH Charity’s biggest mass participation event will see families, friends and individuals of all ages and abilities come together to race 5k by foot, wheelchair or scooter to raise money for seriously ill children treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).

GOSH Charity will host the UK race for the 13th time as part of the global RBC Race for the Kids, a series of 17 running events in support of 35 children and youth charities in 19 countries. To date, the series has attracted more than 325,000 participants worldwide who have collectively raised more than CD$74 million.

The Hyde Park route has been designed to be accessible to all, with dogs, pushchairs, wheelchairs and scooters welcome. Entrants can race individually or as a team and will be rewarded for their efforts with an environmentally friendly wooden medal as they cross the finish line. What’s more, alongside the cheering crowds and inspiring participants, attendees will be treated to a festival village providing music, entertainment, and refreshments throughout the day.

GOSH Charity hopes to see fundraisers in their thousands at the iconic Royal Park, but for those living further afield or who are unable to travel on the day, the virtual element of the race introduced in 2020 and 2021 will remain. Participants taking part from home can pick a distance of their choice to complete in their local neighbourhood between 1-9 October. Everyone, no matter how they sign up, will be making a huge difference in supporting the extraordinary families at GOSH.

Adult registration for the in-person race is £21.50* and children under 16 can run for free. The money raised will go towards funding the hospital’s most urgent needs, including ground-breaking research, advanced medical equipment, support services for children and their families, and the rebuilding and refurbishment of wards and medical facilities.

Louise Parkes, Chief Executive of GOSH Charity, said: “We are delighted that this year’s RBC Race for the Kids will return to its home of Hyde Park in October. This will be GOSH Charity’s first in-person mass participation event since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, and what a joy it will be to raise money for seriously ill children at GOSH as part of a big group once again.

“The hybrid nature of this year’s event means that people can take part closer to their homes too, and after the success of our virtual race events in 2020 and 2021, I look forward to hearing about all the wonderful people across the UK raising vital funds for patients and their families.”

Dave Thomas, CEO, RBC Europe, said: “RBC Race for the Kids is an annual highlight for us all at Royal Bank of Canada, but this year is particularly special as it will be in-person for the first time since 2019. We look forward to joining our clients, colleagues, and friends and family in Hyde Park to support the fantastic work of GOSH Charity.”

For more information and to sign up to take part, please visit: gosh.org/rbcraceforthekids

*The entry fee will increase to £25 from 19 September.

For any media enquiries, please contact:

Ellen Leach-Hutchings or Ruby Bosanquet, GOSH Charity press office
Ellen.Leach-Hutchings@gosh.org / 020 3841 3147 | Ruby.Bosanquet@gosh.org / 020 3841 3317

About Great Ormond Street Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity:

Great Ormond Street Hospital is one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals with the broadest range of dedicated, children’s healthcare specialists under one roof in the UK. The hospital’s pioneering research and treatment gives hope to children from across the UK with the rarest, most complex and often life-threatening conditions. Our patients and families are central to everything we do – from the moment they come through the door and for as long as they need us.

Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity needs to raise money to support the hospital to give seriously ill children the best chance for life. The charity funds research into pioneering new treatments for children, provides the most up to date medical equipment, funds support services for children and their families and supports the essential rebuilding and refurbishment of the hospital. You can help us to provide world class care for our patients and families. For more information visit www.gosh.org

About Royal Bank of Canada:
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 86,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank, and one of the largest in the world based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S., the UK and 33 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com

RBC has a long history in Europe and has operated in the region since 1910 to serve corporate, institutional and high-net worth clients. Today, it provides a wide array of financial products and services, which are delivered by over 5,300 employees from offices in the UK, the Channel Islands, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and Spain. RBC delivers financial products and services in Europe under the global brands RBC Capital Markets, RBC Wealth Management, RBC Investor & Treasury Services, RBC Global Asset Management and BlueBay Asset Management. For more information, please visit www.rbc.com/Europe

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at www.rbc.com/community-social-impact